Thursday, March 25, 2010

S: 1 Corinthians 10:11-12 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!O: Paul is writing to the church in Corinth about a variety of issues that are troubling. This church is really struggling. I like verses 11-12 (& 6) because the general theme is learning from the past. Not to judge others' pasts, but to see the past (of people you know and yourself) with genuine self-awareness. The awareness that must lead to the realization that human nature is sinful and self-serving, and it is only through God's power that we can overcome this nature.

A: I've written applications during my SOAPs about praising God for my many blessings and even done the exercise of writing them in my journal, so that I can come back to them at later times. Today my application is to spend time writing in my journal about times that I was not walking with God, whether I knew it at the time or not, and spend time in repentance, reflection, and thankfulness for God's loving grace. I'll confess that I'm not sure how this fits into the Love Dare, but I will trust God to reveal it to me. Perhaps this self-examination will make me more loving?

P: Father God, I thank you for your grace; the forgiveness that you give freely and lovingly. Help me, Father, to be able to look at myself truthfully. Help me not to shut out the reality of times that I was not in obedience to you and the consequences my disobedience brought, but to truly repent and learn from those times. I pray to become the woman that you want me to be. Amen

3 comments:

Thanks Tracey, Honest reflection through journaling has taught me how much I need God's grace and help. God has been so good to heal me from my past so that sins from the past don't revisit and are not repeated again and again.

Like watching game film from a sport that I played, I can learn to do things differently as situations present themselves again. I often do this process of reflection in my interactions with children and wife. Thanks for the Word again today.

Thank you Tracy,Duet. helped me to take time to do this as well. I took to heart a part that said "do we not know that this grieves God. I took that to be my sin. I am in a very difficult work situation. I find it very helpful to look at my own sin and it does help me to be more loving. If I am willing to see my own sin when God reveals it and confess it then I am less likely to justify myself before others and God. I can confess and seek God's help in loving the difficult to love.

I know it's a few days past your post, but wanted to comment anyhow. I've been sorting through old pictures and keepsakes from my childhood through post-college days. It's been amazing to see how God has been with me through everything, even when I wasn't aware of it, even before I knew him. I can distinctly remembered how my life changed once I let God into my heart and my life, and I praise him that he never gave up on me. May I learn to love others with the same unconditional love (I imagine having a baby will help out with that!)

Pray & Watch

Do you believe in God’s sovereignty? Do you believe that God is at work in your life and the lives of those around you? If the answer is “yes” then you must acknowledge that the people God puts in your life— family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and the clerk at the grocery store—are in your life for a reason. All these people matter to God. And what matters most is people finding Jesus.

«But what can I do?», you ask. You can reach out with acts of kindness and prayer. The apostle Paul said, «I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.» As Christ followers we are not here to convert or criticize. Only God has the power to change people’s hearts and only God has the authority to pass judgment. What we can do is Pray & Watch. Pray for God to draw people to himself. Watch for what he will do in their lives. We do this because we believe what matters most is people finding Jesus.

MRCC

Reaching one percent of our community one person at a time for the One who has given us grace and joy!